PERTH MAN BRIAN SHARP SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING OVER 1,000 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
In November 2006, a serious case involving a Perth-based individual came to light when Brian Sharp, a 54-year-old chartered surveyor, was found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images depicting children.The court proceedings revealed that Sharp had accumulated more than 1,000 such images, some of which featured children younger than six years old.
Despite the gravity of the offense, the Perth Sheriff Court decided against imposing a custodial sentence, citing Sharp's 'exemplary character' as a mitigating factor.
Police officers executed a search warrant at Sharp's residence in Perth after receiving a credible tip-off that he was downloading illegal images from the internet onto his computer.
During the raid, authorities discovered approximately 1,105 images stored across two discs.
The images were described in court as 'horrendous,' highlighting the disturbing nature of the material.
The images primarily depicted children aged between six and fifteen, and some of the photographs were particularly distressing due to the age of the victims.
Sharp admitted to possessing the images on August 15, and as part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for two years.
Additionally, he was ordered to undergo counseling to address his behavior.
The court also took into account Sharp's health issues, including a diagnosis of diabetes and a recent operation to remove a brain tumor.
It was noted that during his recovery, Sharp, who was left 'virtually impotent,' began to access websites containing images of children, which contributed to his offending.
During the sentencing, solicitor John McLaughlin emphasized the support Sharp still received from his wife and children, describing their backing as a testament to their loyalty.
Sheriff Robert McCreadie addressed Sharp directly, acknowledging the disturbing nature of the images and the impact of the offense.
The sheriff explained that the decision to avoid jail was influenced by the potential hardship that imprisonment would cause to Sharp's family and the fact that he had pled guilty at the earliest opportunity, demonstrating remorse and cooperation.
